Simple Living Works! Blog
Posted on: July 15, 2021
7/15/21–eNews #118
Recent Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Episodes
LATEST–Ep. 0721–Matt Brennan: An Advocate for Your Congregation and Nonprofit on How to Install Solar Power
Episode 0621::Carrie Radloff: MidWest Environmental Activism
Episode 0521::Neddy Astudillo: Adding Environmental Actions to Our Spiritual Practiceser
Episode 0421::Arborist Robin Rivet on Reversing Climate Crises Through Informed Tree Actions
Episode 0321::Mike Little: Faith and Money Network
Episode 0221::Economist Barry Shelley: Economic Assumptions and Initiatives for Change
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CAUTION—CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT!
We may need to consider the possibility that the ever mutating pandemic is one way that Mother Earth is righting a natural imbalance.
Let’s consider several premises:
That humans are part of Nature, not the rulers of Nature, that all animals and plants are interdependent. Most creatures have natural predators—animals that eat other animals or plants.
The Earth is in Overshoot. We have more humans than the Earth can support. Some call it Overpopulation. This is a very controversial. The pro-natalists, those who want a higher birth-rate, are driven primarily by pro-growth economics, which just sends us further into Overshoot.
We can survive well with a steady-state economy—one that does not grow—and a reduced population.
We needn’t use coercion to stabilize population. When talking about a smaller global population, pro-natalists use negative examples such as China’s One Child policy or racial superiority. Population can be reduced to a sustainable level using female education and comprehensive family planning. This applies mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Northern Hemisphere must be concerned primarily about restraining OverConsumption—using no more than our fair share of the Earth’s resources. This has been the primary thrust of Simple Living Works! and its predecessors for almost 40 years! We’ve come to the conclusion it’s easier to change human’s reproduction than consumption!
I could go on but I’ll return to the main idea—the pandemic may be a way of the Earth bringing life into balance. Not God, not malevolent scientists, not terrorists.
I’m not suggesting that the Earth makes human-style intellectual decisions and then acts. The Earth is a interconnected, interdependent set of systems that interact to bring change.
We can cooperate in this effort by: 1. Accepting a decline in population and not trying to replace those who have died; 2. Supporting female education and family planning; 3. Bringing our consumption into control so that more humans have an equal share.
We are not telling women how many children they can have. We are trying to help free them to make their own decisions for their own lives, health and family, not to please their husband, extended family or community.
Also visit Resources http://simpleliving.startlogic.com/indexoth.php?place=archives/featuredwriters.php#resources
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Invitation to Read and Sign OneEarth Jubilee Covenant for the 2020’s
Latest OneEarth Jubilee monthly eNewsletter at https://mailchi.mp/965450d548b6/learning-from-mexico-and-a-solar-advocate-for-congregations. Well worth a read.
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FUNDAMENTALISM & NATIONALISM: TWO DOMINANT HERESIES IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY
Fundamentalism & Nationalism: Two Dominant Heresies in American Christianity
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| ReTrumplicans Wage War on Democracy Voter Suppression in effect in Georgia, Florida and Texas. Similar laws in legislatures in multiple other “red” states. How do pro-democracy Progressives pro-act? Non-cooperation! Refuse to do business, vacation or attend events in these states, and tell the ReTrumplicans there–governors, legislators, county chairs–the effects of their actions. Money is the language they understand. PLUS– + Ari Berman on GOP’s War on Democracy & Voting Rights. + Voter Suppression: The Republican War on Facts, Snacks and Democracy By Amy Goodman & Denis Moynihan The January 6th insurrection was one way to try to overthrow democracy. Now, a more sophisticated effort to subvert democracy is underway. + How We Fight Back Against the GOP’s New War on Democracy: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/05/19/how-we-fight-back-against-gops-new-war-democracy |
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The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
LATEST–The Hidden History of American Oligarchy: Reclaiming Our Democracy from the Ruling Class
The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment
The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America
The Hidden History of the War on Voting: Who Stole Your Vote and How to Get It Back
The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream
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Worthwhile Blogs, Webinars, Podcasts
Patheos–Progressive Christian // Jesus for Everyone // Crazy Town // Imagine with Us (SpiritualProgressives.org, Tikkiun.org)
Peace Podcast from John Dear on Apple and Google. Author of ‘They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change’ — SLW! #114: Part 1 // TCGP #98: Part 2
Join Marie Dennis to Reflect on Putting Gospel Nonviolence Back into the Church
John Dear’s Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus– www.beatitudescenter.org
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Simpler Living Daily Nudges
- Month 7*: Money & Goods // Week 1: Green Business // Week 2: Green Investing // Week 3: Green Products // Week 4: Personal Finance, Credit & Debt
- Month 8*: Personal Choices, Happiness, Fulfillment // Week 1:Work, Stress & Health // Week 2: Support // Week 3: Transportation & Travel // Week 4: Homes & Buildings: Construction, Energy Generating, Appliances
Send “Nudge” to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com to receive a free, brief email each week. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying Unsubscribe Nudge.
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- SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
- SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
- Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations: Months 5-8*
- Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index.
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DONATE: https://oneearthjubilee.com/support-oneearth-jubilee/
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Solving the Climate Crisis with No-Growth Economics
To get a worldview very different from the greed and profit-oriented politicians and corporatists, visit these solution-oriented resources:
- GrowthBusters
- Post-Carbon Institute / CrazyTown Podcast — SLW! Ep. 109: Richard Heinberg
- CASSE: Center for the Advancement of the Steady-State Economy / Steady-Stater Podcast — The Common Good Podcast Ep. 46–Brian Czech (use player)
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IT’S NOT OVER YET: A PRA WEBINAR SERIES
In the wake of four years of far-right populist governance culminating in a violent insurrection, Political Research Associates (PRA), publisher of Religion Dispatches, is holding steady in the knowledge, informed by 40 years of Fight the Right research, that it’s not over yet.
PRA is taking this moment to evaluate the state of the Right as it enters into opposition and, at times, into partnership with the new centrist administration. AND STAY TUNED! PRA and RD are working on a joint webinar series on the Christian Right to be announced soon.
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We protect ourselves from Climate Crisis deniers, through such series as:
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- Why We Podcast–We truly believe in the missions of SLW! and Jubilee OneEarth Economics! The mainstream corporate media — left, right or center — exist to sell us more stuff. Though we are only the tiniest whisper, we cannot stop offering an honest alternative to that MultiEarth message. There is no Planet B. Here’s a list of worthwhile media. And even more.
- Our Daily Simpler Living Nudge — What It Is / How It Works / How to GET It – Subscribe by sending NUDGE to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com. / How to SHARE It
- Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
- Recent Responses to SLW! media
- Publications–The complete SLW! Monthly Digest on the SLW! site features the latest posts from colleague organizations and is updated weekly. Simpler Living Nudge features offerings from SLW! It comes as your free subscription to SLW! Blog. Daily Nudges come by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent). SUBSCRIBE as Simple Living Works! through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review. Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast. Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.
Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist
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